Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 12, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Orders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases for the Kodiak Area before heading out on their next fishing trip.
  • NEW: Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-35-18, effective July 12, 2018, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was reduced to two fish per day, two in possession in the Saltery Cover drainage.
  • NEW: Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-34-18, effective July 12, 2016, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon fishing .
  • NEW: Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-33-18, effective July 13, 2018, Chignik River drainage is closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, only one unbaited, single hook, artificial lure may be used for sport fishing.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-17-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Afognak River drainage (Litnik) is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-16-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Buskin River drainage is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-08-18, effective June 1, 2018, Monashka Creek and Bay are closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited in Monashka Creek.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-07-18, effective June 1, 2018, in the Karluk River drainage, including Karluk Lagoon, fishing for king salmon is closed. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited for all fishing downstream of Karluk Lake.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-06-18, effective June 1, 2018, in the Ayakulik River drainage, king salmon fishing is restricted to catch and release. All king salmon caught must be released without being removed from the water. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lures may be used.

Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded there are new rockfish regulations for the Kodiak Area.
  • The bag and possession limits for rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot Bays has been reduced to 3 per day, 6 in possession, only 2 per day, 4 in possession may be non-pelagic, and only 1 per day, 2 in possession may be a Yelloweye. Please review the 2018 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a detailed map of the affected area.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon runs at Buskin and Litnik are past their peak and not expected to meet escapement goals, despite subsistence and sport closures. Both runs are experiencing record low returns and on average are more than 85% complete by now.
• The Pasagshak sockeye salmon run is also very weak with just over 200 fish counted and very few harvested by anglers or in gill nets. As of July 12, 2018, the river will be closed to sockeye fishing.
• Saltery Cove has seen more fish than other local sockeye salmon systems but is still behind for weir counts with just over 2,000 fish counted. A large amount of fishing pressure has transferred there from other places and the bag limit will be reduced to two fish per day starting July 12, 2018, to try to increase escapement at the weir.
• Other sockeye runs on the south end of the Island and Westside of the island are on track for meeting early run escapement goals but are weaker than expected in terms of the total run. Sportfishing for sockeye salmon has been good by most accounts at Karluk, Ayakulik, and Dog Salmon rivers.
• Hatchery king salmon are returning in very small numbers to the Olds, American, and Salonie creeks. Returns were expected to be very large, but it appears they are following the trend of early sockeye salmon runs. There are a few fish being harvested in each location. ADF&G will be on the rivers collecting brood stock starting July 16.
• Monashka Creek is still closed to king salmon fishing and the use of bait.
• The freshwaters of Pillar Creek will be open to king salmon fishing, but the immediately adjacent saltwater’s are closed.
• Pink salmon are just beginning to show up in freshwaters. Look to the lower reaches of most local streams for good early pink salmon fishing, as well as, the beaches near the mouths of most rivers. Bright pinks can be great fighters and excellent eating!
• Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

• Dollies have come in strong in most rivers in the last week. Angler reports are that they are very large too! All rivers are open to dolly fishing even though some may be closed to other species.
• Some anglers have reported good Dolly fishing in Salonie Creek and Olds River so far.
• This is an excellent time to fish our stocked lakes as rainbows are becoming more active as waters warm up and they begin to feed more actively. Visit lower elevation lakes first as fish will be more active in warmer waters.
  • Although ADF&G currently stocks only sterile juvenile trout, some lakes with a stocking history dating to the 1950s may also contain spawning populations of adult fish. Be sure to check the local sport fishing regulations for a current list of stocked lakes as harvest of rainbow trout is only allowed in lakes that are currently stocked.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been spotty in the last week. Some anglers report good success but many anglers report having a hard time finding halibut in the usual spots. This time of year, look to waters between 80 and 120 feet for good halibut fishing.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has slowed down in the last week with reports of less bait fish around in waters close to town. Lots of fish have been caught between Buoys 3 and 4 since late June but it looks like they have moved to other areas.
• Other popular spots to fish kings are the capes of Chiniak and Grevel, Ugak Island, as well as in between Woody and Long islands. Though king salmon fishing in Ugak Bay has been reported to be slow.
• Coho salmon have shown up in these same areas in the last week or so though. Silver fishing has started to pick up in recent days with some anglers reporting good catches of silvers.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Black rockfish can be caught just out of the boat harbor near kelp beds along rock pinnacles and other natural or man-made structures. Rockfish are also frequently caught from shore at locations such as the outer reaches of White Sand beach and the breakwater barrier shielding St. Paul Harbor. Remember to check the current regulations for the area you intend to fish. Bag limits for rockfish have been reduced to 3 per day for pelagic rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot bays.
• Lingcod season opened July 1 and anglers report good lingcod catches though few are directly targeting them but instead catching them incidentally to rockfish and halibut.